Folding bed or camp stretcher



Feb. 19, 194 6. CALDER 2,394,981

FOLDING BED OR CAMP STRETCHER Filed Aug. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb.19, 1946. A. CALDER FOLDI NG BED OR CAMP 3'.[R1EI'.l'CI-IE'R 1942 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.

Patented Feb. 19, 1946 FOLDING BED OR CAMP STRETCHER Archibald Calder,North Brighton, near 1 Melbourne, Victoria, Austr-alia ApplicationAugust 20, 1942, Serial No. 455,455 In Australia July 29, 1941 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding beds of the characterknown as camp beds or stretchers. More specifically, it is directed tothe provision of improvements in folding beds of the type having a' topformedof jute, canvas or like flexible material secured at its oppositesides to longitudinal rails, each of which is formed of two hingedlyconnected sections for the purpose of folding, the saidtop being mountedupon and detachably secured to .a plurality of bearers which arearrangedtransversely and rest directly upon the floor or ground.

The principal object of the invention-is to provide an improved foldingbed .or camp stretcher which comfortable and. serviceable and will meetthe'requirements of economy in constructional costs, ease of assemblyand disman'tlement, and smallness of space occupied by'the bed after ithas been dismantledand its components folded together for storage ortransport.

A folding bed constructed according to the invention has at each side aplurality or. longitudinally aligned and suitably spaced posts which attheir upper ends are rigidly fastened-by detachable stayed joints to thelongitudinal rails of the bed .top, and at their lower ends aresecurely, but detachably, fastened to the bearers that rest upon thefloor or ground. Moreover, the posts are provided withobliquely-disposed stays which at their upper ends are pivotally securedto upper end portions of said posts and at their lower ends pivotallyfastened to the transverse bearers. Thus, the bed structure isadequately stayed and the bed top is very firmly supported so as toresist tendency of inward collapsing movement. When the posts have beendetached and the bed is being set up or is being dismantled, the postsare free to swing pivotally on the oblique stays, andthe latter may havepivotal movement on the transverse bearers.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings to whichreference is now made for the purpose of a detailed description.

Figs. 1 and 2 are views in side elevation and end elevation,respectively, of a folding camp bed according to'the invention.

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views in end elevation and side elevation,respectively, illustrating means for rigidly but detachably connectingthe upper ends of the side posts to the longitudinal rails of the bedtop, and for detachably connecting the lower "ends of the posts to thetransverse bearers in such manner as will provide resilient mountingsfor said posts to 1mpart springiness to the bed top.

Fig. 5 is a detail view in end elevation illustrating avmeans fordetachably connecting the lower ends .of the side posts to thetransverse bearers, according to which the posts are nonresilientlymounted on the bearers.

Figs..6 and ,7 are detail views in end elevation and side elevation,respectively, illustrating alternative means for detachably connectingthe lower ends of the side posts to the transverse bearers so as toprovide resilient mountings for said posts.

Figs. 8 and 9 show'in end elevation and side elevation, respectively,modified means for rigidly but'detachably connecting the opposite endsof the side posts to the longitudinal rails ofthe bed top and thetransverse bearers.

bed :top.

Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views showing in end elevation and sideelevation, respectively, modified means for rigidlybut detachablyconnecting the lower ends of the side posts tothe transverse bearers. j

Figs. 12 and ;13 are detail views in end elevation and in sideelevation,respectively, illustrating a'modification according to which'the lowerends of the side posts are pivotally securedto the transverse bearersand the oblique stays are rigidly, but detachably fastened at theirlower ends to said bearers. v The folding camp bed has its top composedof a length of jute, canvas or like flexible material 2 which is securedat its opposite sides to longitudinal rails '3 preferably made of timberand eachformed in two sections placed end to end andhingedly connectedtogether by a hinge plate 4 of suitable'type. The camp bed may have ahingedly fitted head section (not shown) adapted to be raised andlowered relatively to the other portion of thebed top and to be retainedin an elevated position according to the adjustment selected for thecomfort of the user.

Transverse bearers 5, preferably made of timber, are provided and restdirectly upon the floor or ground in parallel spaced arrangementcorresponding to the head, the middle and the foot locations of the bed.The bed top is mounted upon said bearers by the provision of threewooden posts 6 at each side. These posts usually are relatively short inorder that the bedtop will be .close to the floor or groundllevel as isdesirable when folding beds or camp stretchers are intended for use intents and other places having space restrictions.

The side posts 6 are rigidly :but detachablyfasten'ed at their upperends to'the rails .3 of'the For this purpose. sockets are formed in theunderneath portions of said rails to snugly accommodate dowels 7 formedat the upper ends of the posts, and stay members 8 are secured to therails at on opposite sides of the dowel and socket joints and depend atsuitable distance beieath the rails.

Each of these stay member has at its lower end a catch l0 positioned tocoincide with the longitudinal centre line of the relative dowel andsocket joint, and it is adapted for detachable interlocking engagementWith a fastening element.

more, each of said oblique stays may be formed of a bar ofchannel-section metal which is connected at it opposite ends to oppositesides of a post 6 and opposite sides of the relative bearer 5.

The ends of the transverse bearers 5 extend laterally beyond the sideposts 6 which are mounted thereon, and said side posts have an outwardinclination from their lower ends in order that when the components havebeen assembled in the setting up on the bed the fabric 2 of the bed topwill be suitably tensioned, and

any tendency of inward collapsing movement of the longitudinal rails 3when a heavy weight is placed on the bed top will be effectivelychecked.

vA u-shaped catch 2-'isee Figs. 1 and 4--is rigidly fastened at 25 tothe lower end portion of i each side post 5 and it extends below aidpost.

the horizontal portion and is suitably spaced from the post as is seenclearly in Figs. 3 and 12. In fitting a post6 to a rail 3 of the bedtop, the lever arm I3 is turned upwardly to vertical position and thepost dowel I is inserted into the rail socket while the lever-arm I3 ispassed through the branches of th V-shaped stay member '8. The lever armis then turned downwardly so that its angular portion l4 wedges into theV-sha ed catch 10 of said stay member whereby the post and rail arerigidly clamped together. To release the post from the rail, it merelyrequires the lever arm i3 to be upwardly turned into vertical positionto release the clamping pressures exerted between the two componentswhich are then readily separable.

A modification of the means hereinbefore described for detachablyfastening the uppe end portion of a side post 6 to a longitudinal rail 3of the bed top is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. In these views l5designates a stay plateof suitable shape which is secured at [6 to therail on opposite sides'of the dowel and socket joint and depends beneaththe rail. Thi plate [5 has at its lower end portion a verticalopen-ended slot H with rounded protuberances l8 onopposite sides of saidslot.

This vertical slot is in. a position coinciding withthe longitudinalcentre line of the dowel and socket joint when the post and rail areassembled, audit is adapted to fit about a bolt I!) which is passedthrough the upper end portion of the post. A wing-nut 29 is fitted onthe bolt i9 and is adapted to be tightened against the stay'plate l5 torigidly lock the post and rail together. Owing to the impingement of thewingnut against the protuberances I8 when it is tightened against thestay plate, liability of the said wing-nut working loose under strainsimposed upon the bed top. is minimised. The outer end of the bolt can beburred to prevent accidental detachment and loss of the wing-nut. 7

An oblique stay 21 extends between the upper end portion of each sidepost 6 and its relative bearer -5. This oblique stay is pivoted at 22 tothe post; and in the constructions illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and Figs.8 and 9 its lower end is pivoted at 23 to the bearer. Each of theoblique stays 2| may consist of a single bar of flat metal.Alternatively, it may consist of two fiat metal bars in parallel spacearrangement which are secured at their upper ends to opposite sides ofthe post 5 and to opposite sides of the bearer 5. Further The'ends ofthe transverse bearers 5 are tapered and'secured' to the upper surfaceof their taper ing end portions are clip devices adapted to engage andretain the catches 24. Each of saidclip devices comprises asubstantially flat plate I 2 formed of spring metal which is riveted at28 to the bearer 5 and is'separated therefrom by a spacer 21. Projectingdownwardly from the free end portion of the spring plate ll is a roundedstud 28. When the camp bed is being set up and inward pivotal movementis'imparted to a post 6, the catch 24 enters the jaw formed between thespring plate and the top of the bearer and contacts the stud 28 therebyslightly elevating said spring plate and permitting the inward travel ofthe catch until stopped by the outer end of the spacer 2?. Upon returnof the. spring plate to its normal position the catchZ-t is held betweenthe spacer 21' and the stud 28 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. Theouter'end of the spring-plate is preferably fashioned as a finger-piece29 to facilitate its elevation to release the catch 24 from the bearer 5when the bed is beingdismantled. In

order to eliminate risk of accidental disengagement ofthe post 5 fromthe bearer 5 in the'event of very heavy strains being imposed upon thebed top, a safety latch 30 may be pivoted to the bearer at Hand isadapted for engagement with the outer end of the spring plate H for thepurpose of restraining the latter against any upward movement such asmight permit unintentional release of the catch 24 from the spring clipwith which it was engaged.

The strength of the spring clips provided at the ends of the transversebearers 5 can be regulated by adjustment of clamps 32 which embrace andare longitudinally slidable over the spring plates H and the ends of thebearers, each being locked in selected position by a setscrew 33.- Toaccommodate the slidable clamps, the outerend portions of the bearersare suitably recessed on their underneath surfaces as indicated by 34 inFig. 3. It will be obvious that instead of the single fiat plate ll ofspring metal which has been' hereinbefore described, a laminated springunit, (not shown) may be'used, the said unit being riveted or otherwisefixed to the upper surface of a transverse bearer at the outer endportion thereof. The hereinbefore described means for detachablyconnecting the'side posts 6 to the transverse bearers 5 provides aresilient mounting of the said posts which support the bed top and meansfor conveniently regulatin the permitted degree of resilence'.

Fig.5 illustrates a spring clip secured on the end of a bearer 5 andadapted to engage the catch 24 which isfastened to the lower end of aside post 6 without providing a resilient mounting for said post. Inthis constructionrofclip, the spring plate H is .provided with adownwardl projecting rounded stud-:28 and at its outer end afinger-piece 29 for the purposes hereinbefore explained, and it has'onits underneath surfacea plate. 350i lesser-length but-of non-springy,,metal. The two superimposed plates are mounted ona spacer 21 an-dthey'.are secured to the tapering end-of .the bearer by rivets 36,the outerend :of said spacer functioning as a stop for the catch on the post.

A modified means for detachably fastening a side post 6 to a transversebearer 5 is illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7 wherein 31 designates a fiatplate of spring metal secured by rivets 38 to the bearer. This plate 31has at one end a hook 39 provided with an extension 40 for use as afinger-piece. The post 6 is bevelled at its lower end in order that whenmounted on the bearer to provide a support for the bed top it will restflatwise on top of the metal plate 31. A rectangular frame 4| ispivotally supported by a tubular boss 42 on a metal plate 43 secured toone side of the post 6 by rivets or other fastenings 44. When the bed isbeing set up and the post is swung into position on the bearer the lowermember of said frame 4| is automatically engaged with spring action bythe hook 39 to hold the post in position. When it is required todismantle the bed, upward pressure is applied to the finger-piece 40,whereby the spring plate 31 will be elevated sufficiently to release theframe 4| from its engagement with the hook 39 and thereby release thepost. Although the plate 43 pivotally supporting the frame 4| isillustrated as being secured to the inner side of a post 6, it will beunderstood that it could be secured to the outer side of said post, inwhich case the sprin plate 31 having the hook 39 would be reversed inits position on the bearer 5.

According to the modification illustrated by Figs. 8 and 9, the lowerends of side posts 6 are fitted into seating recesses formed in theupper surface of the bearers 5. Owing to the outward inclination of saidposts, the seating recesses are of tapering formation. rigidly butdetachably fastened to its relative lbearer by a wire stay 45 ofsubstantially inverted V-shape secured on opposite sides of the seatingrecess and having at its apical portion an inverted V-catch 46 adaptedto engage a turnpin 41 fitted rotatably in the lower end portion of thepost and furnished with a lever arm 48.

The wire stay 45 and the turn-pin 41 are of the same character'andfunction in identical manner as the stays 8 and turn-pins I2 employedfor detachably fastening the upper ends of the posts 6. to thelongitudinal rails 3 of the bed top as hereinbefore described withreference to Figs. 1 to 4 and Figs. 8 and 9.

In lieu of the hereinbefore described U-shaped catch 24 provided at thelower end of each side post 6, there may be used two flat plates 49-seeFigs. and 11, which are secured by rivets 5|] on opposite sides of thepost and extend below its lower edge. These plates have inwardlyprojecting studs or tangs 5| which are engageable in a hole 52 drilledin the end of a bearer 5. A screw 53 is passed through the plates 49,and a wing-nut 54 fitted on the said screw is adapted to be tightenedagainst one of said plates 49 to lock the post to the bearer. When thewing-nut has been unscrewed, said plates can ,be readily Each of saidposts is sprungapart to release theirstuds or-.tangs 5| from engagementin the hole-52r and thus detach the post from the bearer.

'According'to the modified means for connectingthe lower end; portion ofa'sidepost 6 with its'relativebearer 5 illustrated in Figs. -12 and 13,theupost. isr,pivotally.fastened to the bearer instead of being adapted;for detachable rigid connectionthereto, and thecorresponding end of theobliquestay 2| is adapted for detachable fastening :to the said bearerinstead of being. pivoted thereto as has been hereinbefore described. Inthese figures of the drawings 55 designates two fiat metal plates whichare riveted to the lower end of the post 6 and extend below the bottomof said post to provide a jaw to receive and snugly acconnnodate the endof the bearer 5.

A pivot pin 56 is passed through the plates 55 and through the bearer.The oblique stay 2| is pivoted at its upper end to an upper portion ofthe post 6, and at its lower end it is slotted at 51 to take over oraccommodate a screw or bolt 58 which is passed through the bearer 5 andis fitted with a wing-nut 59 adapted, when tightened, to impinge againstprotuberances-6ll formed on opposite sides of the slot 51 to rigidlyfasten the stay in such manner that it will be maintained in its correctrelationship with the post 6 when the bed has been set up and is in use.

It will be observed that the lower end of the oblique stay 2| and thefastening devices 58-59 in the modification illustrated in Figs. 12 and13 are similar in construction to the lower portion of the stay plate I5and its fastenings Iii-20 hereinbefore described for detachably securingthe upper end of a side post 6 to a longitudinal rail of the bed top,the same being illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

In all forms of the invention the side posts 6 supporting the bed topare rigidly, but detachably, secured at their upper ends to alongitudinal rail 3 of said bed top by means of a combined stay andfastening device and oblique stays which are fastened at their lowerends to transverse bearers whereon said posts are mounted are pivotallyconnected at their upper ends to upper end portions of said posts. Thisconstruction permits the bed to be erected and to be dismantled withease and convenience, and enables the components of the dismantled bedto be folded into small compass for storage or transport.

What I do claim is: i

1. In a folding camp bed equipped with transverse bearers adapted torest upon the floor in parallelly spaced arrangement, rigid longitudinalrails, a bed top secured to said rails, a series of posts provided atthe opposite ends of said bearers fastened at their upper ends to saidlongitudinal rails and a series of oblique stays provided between saidbearers and the upper end portions of said posts pivotally attached tothe latter; a series of pivotal connecting means fastening predeterminedfixed points of said oblique stays turnably to predetermined fixedpoints of the corresponding bearers, spring clips secured to theopposite ends of said bearers, and catches at the lower ends of saidposts for detachable and releasable engagement by said spring clips.

2. In a folding camp bed according to claim 1, each of said catches atthe lower ends of said posts consisting of a U-shaped member and each ofsaid spring clips secured at the ends of said bearers comprising aspring plate having on its underneath surface a stud for detachable andreleasable engagement by said U-shaped memher and a stop to limit theinward movement of said U-shaped member.

3. In a folding camp bed according to claim 1, each of said catches atthe lower ends of said posts consisting of a U-shaped member and each ofsaid spring clips secured to the opposite ends of said bearerscomprising a spring plate having on its underneath surface a stud fordetachable and releasable engagement by said U-shaped member, a stop tolimit the inward movement of said U-shaped member, and a slidable clamplocked by a set screw for regulating the strength of said spring plate.

4. In a folding camp bed according to claim-l, each of said catches atthe lower ends of said posts consisting of a rectangular frame pivotedto-one side of the post and each of said spring clips secured to theopposite ends of said bearers consisting of a spring plate having at itsfree end a. hook-shaped member for interlocking engage- 10 ment withsaid pivoted frame.

ARCHIBALD CALDER.

